Four days into a pivotal week for Kamala Harris, she faces a critical foreign policy challenge by meeting with an Israeli prime minister who did not acknowledge her in his recent address to Congress. Up until the time of this writing, Harris has been seen as closely aligned with President Joe Biden, known for his strong pro-Israel stance, despite his strained relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu. However, as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Harris must now establish her own presidential identity on this and other issues, while Biden remains focused on securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and possibly normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia as a key legacy project.
Harris did not attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, instead maintaining her prior commitment to a sorority event in Indiana, amidst antisemitic protests near the US Capitol. On Thursday, she is scheduled to meet Netanyahu in her ceremonial office. However, according to discussions with various aides, members of Congress, and political figures, articulating a clear position on Israel will require more than just this meeting.
Richard Haass, former president of the Council on Foreign Relations and a George W. Bush administration official, noted that it is challenging to assess Harris’ stance on Israel while she serves as vice president, and cautioned against drawing conclusions based on hypotheticals.
Aides suggest that Harris will clarify her stance after her meeting with Netanyahu, aiming to demonstrate her independence from Biden without directly opposing him. People close to her say she intends to show clarity, similar to her approach when addressing Donald Trump, rather than trying to appease all sides.
The uncertainty surrounding her position led Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff to join a spontaneous Zoom call organized by the Jewish Democratic Council of America and Jewish Women for Kamala, where he reaffirmed her support for Israel as a secure, democratic, and Jewish state.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee who has been critical of Israel, predicted that Harris might bring new perspectives to U.S.-Israel relations. He suggested that this could be a moment for rethinking the relationship, especially given the rightward shift in Israeli politics, and expressed hope for a fresh approach to the conflict, including efforts toward a viable Palestinian state.
